Chrissie McLeod

• :Led the management and coordination of monthly newsletters for EMCC, ensuring timely and insightful communication with stakeholders.
• Developed analytics reports to assess stakeholder engagement, optimizing outreach strategies based on data-driven insights.
• Played a pivotal role as Public Information Capability (PIC) Lead and Communications & Engagement Lead during the North Queensland Severe Weather Event, Tropical Cyclone Alfred, and Central Queensland widespread flooding—delivering critical, real-time information to support emergency response efforts.
• Streamlined PIC operations within the State Disaster Coordination Centre, driving efficiency and collaboration among response teams.
• Directed whole-of-government severe weather response exercises, strengthening interagency coordination and preparedness.

Accomplishments: Forged strong partnerships with DEM, SES, and MRQ, aligning communication strategies to enhance clarity, consistency, and effectiveness across all emergency messaging.

• Lead media inquiries for SES and MRQ within established QPS protocols and provide expert advice and support for crisis media management.
• Oversee social media policy and provide governance support for volunteers, ensuring compliance with ethical and operational standards.
• Assist DEM, SES, and MRQ with brand management and graphic design, ensuring alignment with whole-of-government policies and procedures.
• Coordinate press conferences and provide talking points to the Commissioner, State Disaster Coordinator and Assistant Commissioner, Disaster and Emergency Management Command, ensuring aligned, clear and impactful messaging.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures and training for Emergency Alerts during severe weather events to optimise public safety communications.
• Collaborate with QFD media to transition key documents, photographs, and videos to QPS, maintaining information integrity and accessibility.

Accomplishments: Worked in collaboration with the Reform Implementation Team and Office of the Special Coordinator to manage Ministerial announcements and events during SES, MRQ and reform transition, ensuring seamless execution.

• Acted as the key liaison with Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, the Minister's Office, and investigating officers to ensure accurate and timely dissemination of information to media and the public.
• Directed media inquiries, delegated tasks to media room staff, and prioritized workflow to provide journalists with timely and reliable information.
• Provided media policy and legislative guidance to QPS employees, media representatives, and other government agencies, ensuring compliance with regulations and strategic alignment.
• Delivered media training sessions to senior QPS officers, updating presentations to reflect evolving communication strategies.
• Mentored and provided advisory support to media officers, fostering professional development and best practices in media engagement.
• Managed interview requests and coordinated media access with senior officers and executive leadership.

Accomplishments: Supervised a highly functioning media operations team during Extinction Rebellion Week of Action, ensuring effective public messaging and strategic crisis management. Oversaw a team of up to 14 staff during high-profile domestic violence cases, including the domestic violence murders of Tara Brown in Molendinar and Karina Lock in Helensvale McDonalds, ensuring professional and compassionate handling of media coverage.

• Directed a high-performing team of media advisors, public affairs officers, and media supervisors, driving the objectives of the Media and Public Affairs Branch with reactive and proactive communication strategies.
• Acted as the key liaison with Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, the Minister's Office, and investigating officers to ensure accurate and timely dissemination of information to media and the public.
• Directed approximately 300 media inquiries per month, delegated tasks to media room staff, and prioritised workflow to provide journalists with timely and reliable information.
• Provided media policy and legislative guidance to QPS employees, media representatives, and other government agencies, ensuring compliance with regulations and strategic alignment.

Accomplishments: Provided expert counsel to the Deputy Commissioner, Crime, Counter Terrorism & Specialist Operations and Assistant Commissioner Brisbane Region on communications surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict and its impact on the Queensland community, ensuring sensitive and responsible messaging.

• Oversaw land transport safety and regulation, engineering, and technology initiatives across North Coast Region and Wide Bay.
• Managed departmental media events, including Move Over, Slow Down laws, Personal Mobility Device Safety Action Plan, and Roadside Behaviour Monitoring System.
• Managed interview requests and media responses for General Managers and Regional Directors on high-profile topics such as Personal Mobility Device regulation reforms, mobile phone and seatbelt infringement notices, and medicinal cannabis driving laws.

Accomplishments: Coordinated joint departmental and ministerial media events for major road safety campaigns, including Easter and Christmas initiatives, ensuring seamless execution of event materials, visuals and media coverage.

• Identified proactive opportunities to enhance awareness and engagement with GC2018 public transport services.
• Managed responses to complex media enquiries involving key transport operators, including QR, GoldLinQ, and Surfside Buses.
• Stakeholder & Partnership Management – Fostered strong relationships with GOLDOC, City of Gold Coast, and the Minister's office to maximize media exposure and campaign effectiveness.
• Drafted, edited, and secured approvals for ministerial materials, including speaking points, FAQs, HIBs, and joint media releases.
• Developed comprehensive operations manuals for games-time media personnel across host and event cities.
• Designed and tested media response crisis scenarios to ensure seamless execution during GC2018.

Accomplishments: Trained and managed TMR colleagues across Brisbane, Cairns, and Townsville in centralised games-time communication strategy and produced a post-GC2018 promotional video, serving as a strategic resource for future host cities.

• Liaised with QPS employees, media representatives, and government agencies to provide expert advice on social media platforms and information release strategies.
• Developed proactive public affairs projects and conducted comprehensive reviews of current digital media practices to remain ahead of industry trends.
• Produced engaging internal and external QPS blog content in alignment with department messaging.
• Initiated dynamic content projects for QPS social media channels, including the popular “What the Friday” series.
• Authored style guides and terms of use for QPS social media platforms to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Delivered tailored training sessions on digital media platforms to QPS employees, fostering enhanced social media competency.
• Provided policy advice regarding the effective and ethical use of QPS digital media, supporting ongoing investigations and internal best practices.
• Moderated and maintained the branch's online social media presence, ensuring clear, consistent communication in fast-paced environments.

Accomplishments: Researched, wrote, and coordinated award submissions such as Excellence in eGovernment 2.0, Excellence in eGovernment Innovator, QPS Gold Award for Excellence in Corporate Services, PRIA Golden Target Awards finalist for response to 2011 floods and use of digital media in a disaster.

• Determined monitoring benchmarks to analyze and improve website and social media performance.